Ball game device

ABSTRACT

A game device having a flat player board and a back wall at one end thereof for playing games employing playing balls, such as baseball on a miniatruized basis. A game playing field such as baseball field is imprinted on the player board. A suspension rod extends across said player board forwardly of said back wall and a plurality of score depicting plates swingably depend therefrom across the player board for determining the score of a player when contacted by the playing ball. A swingable ball engaging member is pivotally mounted at the end of the player board opposite the back wall and can be manually operated by a player to propel a playing ball toward the score depicting plates. A chute inclines downwardly toward the ball engaging member so that a ball rolled down the chute toward the ball engaging member can be engaged thereby and propelled to the score depicting plates. The device may be constructed so that it can be folded up in the form similar to a suitcase for portability.

United States Patent [1 1 Kanefield et a1.

[ June 4, 1974 BALL GAME DEVICE [73] Assignee: said Kanefield, by said Ritter [22] Filed: July 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 275,183

[52] U.S. Cl. 273/89 [51] Int. Cl. A63f 7/06 [58] Field of Search 273/85 R, 85 E, 88, 89,

273/90, 120 R, 127 D, 136 G, 119 R, 121 R, 127 R, 127C, 127 B, 93R

2,722,425 11/1955 Gazelle 273/136 G X Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerHarry G. Strappello Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert J. Schaap, Esq.

[57] ABSTRACT A game device having a flat player board and a back wall at one end thereof for playing games employing playing balls, such as baseball on a miniatruized basis. A game playing field such as baseball field is imprinted on the player board. A suspension rod extends across said player board forwardly of said back wall and a plurality of score depicting plates swingably depend therefrom across the player board for determining the score of a player when contacted by the playing ball. A swingable ball engaging member is pivotally mounted at the end of the player board opposite the back wall and can be manually operated by a player to propel a playing ball toward the score depicting plates. A chute inclines downwardly toward the ball engaging member so that a ball rolled down the chute toward the ball engaging member can be engaged thereby and propelled to the score depicting plates. The device may be constructed so that it can be folded up in the form similar to a suitcase for portability.

I 13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BALL GAME DEVICE This invention relates in general to several new and useful improvements in game devices, and more particularly, to game devices which utilize a playing ball which can be propelled toward a plurality of score depicting elements.

In recent years the market place has offered a wide variety of games and game devices primarily for children and often for adults as well. Many of these games are based on athletic sports such as baseball, basketball, football and the like so that a miniaturized version of the game may be played on a game board. In addition to the playing ball, these games include a number of complex movable parts, such as player actuating mechanisms and the like, which enable the game to be played in a simulated manner to the actual sport. Consequently these game devices are often costly to construct, even on a mass production basis, and therefore these game devices are often quite costly to the purchaser.

ln an effort to reduce the manufacturing costs of many of these game devices, the manufacturer thereof will often select less durable components or otherwise select ways of assembling the components with a minimum amount of manual laborpl-lowever, these costcutting techniques have only resulted in game devices which are not very durable and generally cannot withstand the abuse normally received by children of the age groups that would play the games on these game devices.

Another drawback in many of these commercially available game devices is that they are often quite bulky and therefore difficult to store and transport. There have been many attempts to produce game devices with a portable fold-up construction in order to end a degree of portability to these devices, and thereby obviate the problems of storage and transport. However, this form of game construction has only resulted in higher production costs and thereby added to the already substantial purchase price of the game devices.

The present invention obviates these and other problems in the provision of a game device which permits the playing of a game simulating a sport utilizing a playing ball and which employs a minimum number of components and movable parts. Furthermore the game device in accordance with the present invention is constructed so that it can be folded up in a small compact unit to resemble a small suitcase or briefcase when it is not being used.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a game device which enables the simulated playing of sports utilizing a playing ball.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a game device of the type stated which can be constructed with relatively durable and inexpensive materials of construction.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro vide a game device of the type stated which can be inexpensively manufactured on a mass production basis and which utilizes a minimum number of complex movable parts.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a game device of the type stated which can be constructed so that it can be opened into a device which includes a relatively flat game board and which can also be folded into a relatively small compact unit.

With the above and other objects in view, our inven tion resides in the novel features of form, construction, combination and arrangement of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

in general terms, the device of the present invention may be described as a game device which comprises the combination of a base member having a player functioning end and an upstanding back wall on an end opposite to the player functioning end. Suspension means extends across the base member and is substantially parallel to and intermediate the back wall and the player functioning end. A plurality of score depicting elements extend across a portion of this base member and are rockably mounted with respect to the suspension means. A ball actuating member is located at the player functioning end and is manually operable by a player to propel a playing ball toward the score depicting elements for generating a score upon contact with selected ones of the score depicting elements by said ball. in addition, chute-forming means extends toward the player functioning end for causing the ball to be moved toward the player functioning end whereby the ball may be propelled by the ball actuating membe toward any of the score depicting elements.

In further detail, the game device of the present invention may be characterized in that the elements'of a game are imprinted on the base member in cooperative relationship to the score depicting elements for determining the score obtained by a player pursuant to the movement of the ball toward the region of the score depicting elements. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elements of the game are preferably the elements of a baseball game. In another aspect of the present invention, the chute-forming means inclines downwardly towards the player functioning end and is located to receive a playing ball propelled therein from the ball actuating member for affecting the score obtained by a player. ln this case, when a ball is propelled from the ball actuating member, through the chute-forming means, this activity represents a home run.

Elements of the game are also printed on the back wall and manually shiftable score depicting devices are locatable at selected locations on the elements of the game to depict the score of any of the players. These elements on the back wall correspond to the elements of the game imprinted on the base member. In like manner, a bell-forming means may be located behind the chute-forming means on the back wall to be struck by the ball which is propelled through the chuteforming means. Furthermore, various score depicting dial faces may be located on the back wall for depicting the score of one or more of the players. Manually movable pointer means are associated with these dial faces.

The ball actuating member comprises a shank portion having a central bore which is fitted over a pin mounted on the base member. A ball contact element also extends laterally outwardly from the shank portion. in one aspect of the present invention, the ball actuating member is removable from this upstanding pin so that the pin serves as a locking pin to be inserted into an aperture on the back wall when the game is folded to the closed container-like construction.

In another preferred aspect of the present invention, the device may be described as a portable game device which comprises a planer wall, a pair of opposed end walls and a pair of opposed side walls connected by said end walls and perpendicularly disposed to said planer wall. A closure wall is pivotal along one end margin of one of said side walls from a closure position where it is located in spaced substantially parallel relationship to said planer wall to an open position where it is essentially substantially co-planer with said last named side wall and substantially perpendicular to said planer wall. A first flap is hingedly connected to a free end margin of said closure wall and is substantially co-planer therewith when in the open position and is located in juxtaposition to one of said side walls when in the closed position. A second flap is hingedly connected to a free end margin of said firstflap and is substantially coplaner therewith in the open position, and is located in juxtaposition to at least a portion of said planer wall when in the closed position. In addition, score depicting elements are swingably mounted with respect to said closure wall and are movable upon contact by a playing ball propelled along. said closure wall. Pinforming means arelocated on said second flap and ball actuating means are removably retained by said pinforming means. This ball actuating means is manually operable by a player to contact a playing ball and propel the smae toward the score depicting elements. An aperture is formed'in said planer wall and is sized to receive the pin-forming means when the closure wall and v the first and second flaps are in the'closed position.

The portable game device of the present invention may be further characterized in that the side wall flaps extend outwardly from the opposite end margins of said closure flap and are located in juxtaposition to said end walls when the closure flap is moved to the closed position. In addition, the first and second flaps have substantially the same width as the closure flap. Furthermore, the closure wall and the first and second flaps constitute a playing board when in the open position and are located in co-planer relationship. At least one of the said closure walls and said first and second flaps have elements of a game imprinted on commonly presented surfaces thereof. In the preferred aspect of the present invention, the elements of this game constitute a baseball playing field. In order to provide portability, handle means are located on one of the side walls or end walls. In addition, chute-forming means extends longitudinally across a portion of the closure wall in angular relationship to a surface thereof.

Having thus described our invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game device constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the game device taken along line 22 of FIG. 1; r

FIG. 3 is a vertical side elevational view of the game device of FIG. 1 shown in the partially folded-up condition; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a swingable ball engaging member and mounting means therefor which fonns part of the game device embodying the .backboardf A pair of upstanding end walls 14 are integrally formed with the back wall 12 and project forwardly therefrom. A top wall 18 and a bottom wall 20 extend between the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the end walls 14 and are integrallyformed with the respective upper and lower ends of the back wall 12 and upstanding end walls 14. i

A relatively flat playing board 22 having a transverse dimension equal to the transverse dimension of the bottom wall 20 is connected to the bottom wall 20 along a hinge connection 24. A pair of upstanding ball retaining side flaps 26, each being located on opposite longitudinal end margins of the playing board 22, extend forwardly from the forwardly presented edge margins of the end walls 14 for a portion of the longitudinal dimension of the playing board 22. These side flaps have a vertical dimension which is approximately equivalent to or less than the width, that is the longitudinal dimension, of the'end walls 14. In addition, these flaps 26 have a length which is about equal to or slightly less than the height of the end walls 14 for reasons which will presently more fully appear. I The retaining case 10 and the playing board 22, along with the ball retaining side flaps, which are preferably integral with the playing board 22, may be formed of any material of construction which is relatively inex-' pensive, but'which is nevertheless fairly durable. Thus,

these components, in a preferred embodiment, are preferably molded as an integral unit from any suitable synthetic resinous material such as polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, or any of a number of other vinyl halide materials, or other similar moldable synthetic resinous materials. In this case the hinge connection 26 is also'a strip which extends between the bottom wall 20. and playing board 22 and is integral therewith. To effectuate this type of hinge connection the strip forming the hinge connection 26 is formed with a lesser thickness than the bottom wall 20 and playing board 22 and preferably with additives which lend a sufficient degree of flexibility and bendability to this strip. In the event that the strip forming the hinge connection 24 is formed of this lesser thickness the upwardly presented surface should be co-planar with the upper surfaces of the playing board'22 and the bottom wall 20 to provide a continuous flat surface.

The various components mentioned-above could also be formed in individual sections from any of the aforementioned synthetic resinous materials and bonded or otherwise secured together. In like manner, these various components could be formed of other materials of construction such as paperboard materials or light weight metals such as aluminum or the like. In these latter cases, hinge elements (not shown) would be em ployed to achieve the hinge connection 24. x

The playing board 22 is 'also formed with a hinge con nection 28 transversely thereacross at the forward edges of the side flaps 26 to thereby form a closure panel 30 and a first playing board flap 32. A second hinge connection 34 extending transversely across the playing board 22 and spaced forwardly of the first hinge connection 28 forms a second playing board flap 36. ,The hinge connections 28 and 34 are spaced so that the closure panel '30 has a longitudinal dimension which is substantially equal to the vertical dimension of the back wall 12. In addition the longitudinal dimension of the first flap 32 is substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the top wall 18. Furthermore,

the second flap 36 has a longitudinal dimension which is substantially equal to or less than the vertical dimension of the back wall. The hinge connections 28 and 34 are of substantially the same construction as the hinge connection 24..

In accordance with the above outlined construction, the closure panel 30 can be folded up along the hinge connection 24 so that it lies in spaced substantially parallel relationship to the back wall 12. In this case the side flaps 26 will lie inwardly of and in juxtaposition to the end walls 14. Furthermore, the first playing board flap 32 will lie in facewise juxtaposition over the top wall 18 in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 3. Finally the second playing board flap 36 will pivot about the hinge connection 34 so that it lies in justaposition to the exterior surface of the back wall 12 so that the retaining case is completely closed. For purposes of portability, a conventional handle strap 38 is secured to the exterior surface of one of the end walls 14. Any conventional means (not shown) may be used to secure the handle strap 38 to the side wall 14 or to any other part of the case 10 as may be desired.

In accordance with the above, it can be observed that the componentsforming the casing 10 and the attendant playing board 22, along with the side flaps 26 can be molded or stamped as an integral unit. In this way, the game device of the present invention can be constructed with a minimum number of structural components so that it can be folded up into a small compact portable unit.

Imprinted on the upper surface of the game board 22 near the forward end which constitutes a player functioning end 38 are the elements of a game such as a baseball playing field or baseball diamond. Accordingly this player functioning end 38 will be provided with a home plate 40 as well as the remaining components of a standard baseball diamond infield 42 including for example, the pitchers mound and the first, second and third bases. A pair of foul lines 44 imprinted on the upper surface of the game board extend rearwardly from the diamond infield 42 at the first and third bases toward the back wall 12 to define the boundaries of the normal baseball playing field.

Located near the home plate 40 of the baseball playing field is a ball actuating member 46 in the form of a batter mechanism which is more fully illustrated in FIG. 4 and which is described in more detail hereinafter. Thus, when a normal playing ball, which may be a normal table tennis ball, as for example, the table tennis ball commercially known under the trademark Ping-Pong, a soft small rubber ball or the like, is

moved toward the actuating member, the player can pivot the actuating member and bat the ball through the infield toward any of a plurality of depending score depicting plates 48. In accordance with normal baseball playing rules, if the ball is batted beyond either of the foul lines 44 prior to passing beyond the first and third bases, the ball will be considered a foul ball. In like manner, if the ball remains within the foul lines 44 it may contact one of the score depicting plates 48 to thereby affect the score of a player.

The score depicting plates 48 depend from a suspension rod 50 which is secured to and extends between the two opposed end walls 14 near the forwardly presented margins thereof in substantially parallel relationship to the back wall 12 and the game board 22. This suspension rod 50 may be secured to the end walls 14 by any conventional means such as by insertion of the ends thereof into apertures orrecesses formed in the interiorly presented surfaces of the end walls 14. The suspension rod 50 is also located at a height which is sufficient to provide a slight clearance between the lower margins of the score depicting plates 48 and the game board 22 which is sufficient to permit swingable movement of the plates upon contact by the playing ball, but which is not sufficient to permit the ball to pass thereunder without contacting the plates. In this regard the side wall flaps 26 are each provided with an arcuately shaped slot 52 to receive the end portions of the suspension rod 50 when the closure wall 30 and the flaps 26 carried thereby are shifted to the closed position.

The suspension rod 50 may be formed of any of a number of known materials such as wood, or any of a number of metals or plastics or the like. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the suspension rod 50 is extruded from an extrudable plastic material. The exact means for mounting the suspension rod 50 will to a large extent depend upon the materials of construction of the rod 50 and the end walls 14.

The score depicting plates 48 may also be formed of any of the materials used in the formation of the suspension rod 50, and are preferable molded from a plastic material. Swingable suspension of the plates 48 on the rod 50 is achieved by the provision of curled fingers or an enlarged tubular element 54 integrally formed on the upper end of each of the plates 48 and which circumferentially extend about the rod 50 in a loose fitting arrangement.

7 Other means of suspending the plates 48 may also be employed. Thus, for example, the suspension rod 50 may be replaced by a string or other flexible supporting member which may extend through apertures formed in the score depicting plates 48. In like manner, the score depicting plates 48 may also be suspended from the suspension rod 50 by means of flexible cords or the like.

A players score may be affected by the particular score depicting plate 48 which is contacted by a playing ball propelled from the ball actuating member 46. Thus, a particular loss or gain might be achieved in a game by the player causing the ball to strike the proper score depicting member. In the case of baseball, preferably eight score depicting plates 48 are employed, although the number of plates employed may be altered in order to increase the possibility of loss or gain in a particular game or otherwise to comply with the score possibilities of another game.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two outermost score depicting plates 48 are labeled single. The next two adjacent plates 48 on each of the opposite ends of the row thereof are labeled double," the next two adjacent plates 48 are labeled triple" and the two interior-most plates 48 are labeled out. Thus, if a player is able to propel the ball in a path to strike the single, double or triple desig nated plates, he will obtain that gain in the game of baseball. On the other hand, if the player propels the ball in such manner that it strikes the out" designated plate, the player will suffer that loss. The location of the plates will be primarily dependent upon the advantage gained by causing the ball to strike a particular plate. Accordingly, those plates which enable the player to obtain the most gain will be located in positions where A ball chute 56 extends downwardly and forwardly from the suspension rod 50 toward the hinge connection 30. The chute 56 is arcuate in vertical crosssection approaching a semicylindrical member with a radius sufficient-to movably accommodate the playing ball used in the game. At its rearward end, the chute 56 is provided with a depending set of fingers or clamps (not shown) which is arcuately shaped to snap over the suspension rod 50. When located in the playing position as illustrated in FIG. 1, the lower forward margin rests on the upper surface of. the closure panel 30. When it is desired to close the game up for transportability the chute-56 can be readily removed from its supported position on the suspension rod 50 by merely pulling upwardly on the same.

The chute 56 is located so that one player may force the ball down the chute 56 toward the home plate 46 where another opposing player is manually actuating the ball actuating mechanism 38. The player forcing the ball which is often referred to in this game as "pitching the ball, may exercise some control over the ball by attempting to use knuckle control, or other control to, for example, curve the ball. The rules of play in the baseball game are also applicable herein so that if the batter, e.g. the player actuating the ball actuating member 46.misses a pitched ball or otherwise causes the ball to-move into a foul zone, the batter'will have one strike imposed. In like manner, if the pitcher does not propel the ball over the home plate 40, then the batter will have a ball count.

A home run can be achieved by the batter propelling the playing ball back up the chute 54 until it passes therethrough. In this connection the chute 56 serves a dual purpose in that the chute serves as a means to "pitch the ball toward the home plate 40, and as a scoring device since it permits a batter to score a home run by causing the ball to completely pass through the chute 56 toward the back wall 12. A bell 58 or similar alarm mechanism may be mounted on the back wall 12 in approximate horizontal alignment with the upper end of the chute 56 so that a ball passing therethroughand which is indicative of a home run, will contact the bell and energize same or otherwise generate a sound upon contact.

The ball actuating member 46, which is more fully illustrated in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 4, generally comprises a tubular shank 60 having a central bore 62 to pivotally receive an upstanding combination retaining-locking pin 64 mounted on the upper surface of the game board 22 at the player functioning end 38. The upstanding pin 64 may be secured to the playing board 22 by any of a number of conventional fastening means, such as rivets, screws, or the like(not shown), or it may be molded into the surface thereof.

The ball actuating member 46 is preferably cast or otherwise formed of a metal such as iron, steel, or aluminum. Integrallyyformed with and extending laterally from'the shank 60 is a handle 66 which may be conveniently grasped by a player for rotating the ball actuating member 46 about the upstanding pin 64. In this connection the bore 62' is sized so that the shank 60 -may be remova'bly disposed on the pin 64 and may be 8 end thereof is a ball contact paddle 68 -or so-cal led bat having a relatively flat ball contact surface 70.

By further reference to FIG. 4, it can be observed that the paddle 68 is located on diametrally opposite sides of the shank 60 with respect to the handle 66. Furthermore the upstanding pin 64 and hence the ball actuating member 46 will be located in close proximity to the home plate 40 so that the paddle 68 can be swung over the plate 40. In this way the player cangrasp the handle 66 and manually pivot the shank 60 about the upstanding pin 64 in a manner to contact a pitched ballwith the paddle 68 and attempt to score by contacting selected ones of the score depicting plates 48, or otherwise propelling the ball up the chute 56 in order to obtain a home run.

Thepin 64 also serves a dual function since it receives the ball actuating member 46, and also serves as a locking pin in that it is capable of being movably inserted into an aperture (not shown) formed in the back wall 14. Thus, when the game device A is folded up and the flap 36 lies in juxtaposition to the exterior surface of the back wall 14, the pin 64 can be inserted in the aforesaid aperture to hold the case in the locked position. In this connection the pin 64 would snugly, though nevertheless removably, fit within the aperture .on the back wall 14. It should also be observed that another upstanding pin (not shown) could be located on the opposite side of the home plate 40 so that the ball actuating member 46 could be located on the opposite side of the homeplate 40. In this way player s'could play the game from both sides of the game board 22. In this latter construction, a second aperture would be formed in the back wall 14 to accommodate the second upstanding pin.

Imprinted on the forwardly presented surface of the back wall 12 are the elements of a game, such as the elementsof a baseball playing field or diamond," which essentially correspond tothe elements of the baseball playing field imprinted on upper surface of the playing board 22. These elements of the baseball diamond on the back wall 12 include the three bases and a home plate. An aperture or recess 72 is formed in each of the three bases and in the home plate to receive a removable score indicating pin 74. Thus, if one player acquires a single during the course of a game he would place one score indicating pin 74 in'the aperture 72 at the first base to indicate the presence of a man on first base. Thereafter if a player acquires another single during the course of the game he will insert one pin 74 in the aperture 72 at the first base and one pin 74 in the aperture 72 at the second base to indicate the presence of men on the first and second bases. In this way the players can keep track of the various plays during an inning of the game. e

Located on the interiorly presented surface of the back wall 14 are a plurality of score depicting dial faces 76 having movable pointers 78. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, two such dials are pro vided for showing the number of runs obtained by each of the players or player teams. Dials are also provided for depicting the number of strikes and the number of outs in an inning. Any number of dials'with any desired indicia thereon may be'provided in accordance with the present invention. g

In use, the game deviceofthe present invention may be used by opening the casing, that is swinging the closure wall 30, and the two flaps 32 and 36 in the open fiat position to form the relatively planar playing board 22. One of the players may then pitch the ball from the chute 56 toward the plate 40. The other player will then actuate the ball actuating member 46 to thereby propel the playing ball toward any of the score depicting plates 48 or the home run chute 56. The game then proceeds in accordance with normal baseball rules, or any other rules which may be provided, or otherwise adopted by the players.

When it is desired to fold up the game for storage or transport, the various components are folded in the manner as previously described and as illustrated in FIG. 3 to form a small compact carrying case. The chute is removed from its supported position on the suspension rod 50 and stored along with the playing ball in the case. It is to be observed that clearance for the suspension rod 50 is provided in the side wall flaps 26 through the provision of the arcuate slots 52.

It can be observed that the game device of the present invention is highly versatile in that with slight modifications, the game can be utilized for the simulated playing of any sport employing a playing ball on a miniaturized basis. Thus with slight modification the game device can be used in the playing of a simulated basketball game, or simulated football game, or the like. In these cases, the elements of the playing field would be revised to conform to the normal playing field for the sport which is to be played.

Thus, there has been illustrated and described a novel game device which is highly versatile and which can be constructed at a relatively economical cost, and thereby fulfills all of the objects and advantages sought therefor. It should be recognized that many changes and modifications can be made in the form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts without departing from the nature and principle of our invention. Therefore, all such changes and modifications are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the following claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we desire to claim and secure by letters patent is:

1. A portable game device comprising a planar wall, a pair of opposed end walls and a pair of opposed side walls connecting said end walls and extending from and perpendicularly disposed to said planar wall, a closure wall pivotal along one end margin of one of said side walls from a closure position where it is located in spaced substantially parallel relationship to said planar wall to an open position where it is essentially substantially co-planar with said last named side wall and substantially perpendicular to said planar wall, a first flap hingedly connected to the free end marginof said closure wall and being substantially co-planar therewith when in the open position and being located in juxtaposition to one of said side walls when in the closed position, a second flap hingedly connected to a free end margin of said first flap and being substantially coplaner therewith in the open position and being located in juxtaposition to at least a portion of said planar wall when in the closed position, score depicting elements swingably mounted with respect to said closure wall and being movable upon contact by a playing ball propelled along said closure wall, an outwardly projecting pin located on said second flap, ball actuating means removably retained by said outwardly projecting pin, said ball actuating means being swingable on said projecting pin and being manually operable by a player to contact said playing ball and propel same toward said score depicting elements, and means forming an aperture in said planar wall sized to receive said pin when said closure wall and first and second flaps are in the closed position.

2. The portable game device of claim 1 further characterized in that side wall flaps extend outwardly from opposite ends of margins of said closure wall and are located in juxtaposition to said end walls when the closure wall is moved to the closed position.

3. The portable game device of claim 1 further characterized in that said first and second flaps have substantially the same width as said closure wall.

4. The portable game device of claim 1 further characterized in that said closure wall and said first and second flaps constitute a playing board when in the open position and in coplanar relationship, and at least one of said closure walls and first and second flaps have elements of a game imprinted on commonly presented surfaces thereof.-

5. The portable game device of claim 4 further characterized in that said game device is a baseball game and the elements of the game are elements of a baseball playing field.

6. The portable game device of claim 1 further characterized in that handle means is located on one of said end walls.

7. The portable game device of claim 1 further characterized in that a chute sized to receive a playing ball extends longitudinally across a portion of said closure wall in angular relationship to a surface thereof.

8. A baseball game device comprising a base member having a player functioning end and a back wall opposite to said player functioning end, a side wall extending forwardly toward said player functioning end from each of the opposite end margins of said back wall, suspension means retained by said side walls and extending across said base member in substantially parallel relationship to said back wall and being located intermediate said back wall and player functioning end, a plurality of spaced apart aligned score depicting elements rockably retained by and depending from said suspension means and extending across a portion of said base member, a ball actuating member located at said player functioning end and being manually operable by a player to propel a playing ball toward said score depict ing elements for generating a score upon contact of said ball with selected ones of said score depicting elements, elements of a baseball playing field imprinted on said base member in cooperative relationship to said score depicting elements for determining the score obtained by a player pursuant to movement of said ball toward the region of said score depicting elements, elements of a baseball playing field imprinted on said back wall corresponding to elements of the baseball playing field imprinted on said base member, manually shiftable score depicting devices manually locatable at selected locations on the elements of the baseball playing field imprinted on said back wall, a chute sized to receive the playing ball extending from said suspension means toward said player functioning end and being inclined downwardly toward said player functioning end for causing the ball to be moved toward said player functioning end, whereby said ball may be propelled by said ball actuating member toward said score depicting elements, said chute also being located to receive a ball propelled therein from said ball actuating member for affecting the score obtained by a player, at least one score depicting dial face located on said back wall, and manually movable pointer means on said dial face for depicting the score of one or more players.

9. A game device comprising the combination of a base member having a player functioning end and an upstanding back wall on an end opposite to said player functioning end, suspension means extending across said base member and substantially parallel to and intermediate said'back wall and player functioning end, a plurality of score depicting elements extending across a portion of said base member and being rockably mounted with respect to said suspension means, a ball actuating member located at said player functioning end and being manually operable by a player to propel a ball toward said score depicting elements for generating a score upon contact with selected ones of said score depicting elements by a playing ball, a chute sized to receive said playing ball extending toward said player functioning end for causing said ball to be moved toward said player functioning end whereupon said ball may be propelled by said ball actuating memb'er toward said score depicting elements, said chute" being located to incline downwardly toward said player functioning end and being located to receive a ball propelled therein from said ball actuating member for affecting the score obtained by a player, and a bell located behind said chute to be actuated by a ball propelled into and through said chute.

10. The game device of claim 9 further characterized in that elements of a game are imprinted on said back wall, and that manually shiftable score depicting devices are locatable at selected locations on the elements of said game to depict the score of a player.

11. A game device comprising a base member having a player functioning end and a back wall opposite to said player functioning end, a side wall extending forwardly toward said player functioning end from each of the opposite end margins of said back wall, suspension means retained by said side walls and extending across said base member in substantially parallel relationship to said back wall and being located intermediate said back wall and player functioning end, a plurality of spaced apart aligned score depicting elements rockably retained by and depending from said suspension means and extending across a portion of said base member, a ball actuating member located at said player functioning end and being manually operable by a player to propel a playing ball toward said score depicting elements for generating a score upon contact of said ball with selected ones of said score depicting elements, elements of a playing game imprinted on said base member in cooperative relationship to said score depicting elements for determining the score obtained by a player pursuant to movement of said ball toward the region of said score depicting elements, elements of the playing game imprinted on said back wall corresponding to elements of the playing game imprinted on said basemember, manually shiftable score depicting devices manually locatable at selected locations on the elements of the playing game imprinted on said back wall, a chute sized to receive the-playing ball extending from said suspension means toward said player functioning end and being inclined downwardly toward said player functioning end for causing the ball to be moved toward said player functioning end, whereby said ball may be propelled by said ball actuating member toward said score depicting elements, said chute also being located to receive'a ball propelled therein from said ball actuating member for affecting the score obtained by a player,at least one score depicting dial face located on said back wall, and manually movable pointer means on said dial face for depicting the score of one or more players.

12. The game device of claim 11 further characterized in that said ball actuating member comprises a shank portion fitted over a pin located on said base member and having a ball contact portion angularly located to said shank portion.

13. The game device of claim 11 further characterized in that the game played thereon is a baseball game, the elements of the game imprinted on said base member constitute elements of a baseball playing field, and where foul-ball lines are imprinted on said base member and extend from the elements of said baseball playing field toward said score depicting element. 

1. A portable game device comprising a planar wall, a pair of opposed end walls and a pair of opposed side walls connecting said end walls and extending from and perpendicularly dispoSed to said planar wall, a closure wall pivotal along one end margin of one of said side walls from a closure position where it is located in spaced substantially parallel relationship to said planar wall to an open position where it is essentially substantially co-planar with said last named side wall and substantially perpendicular to said planar wall, a first flap hingedly connected to the free end margin of said closure wall and being substantially co-planar therewith when in the open position and being located in juxtaposition to one of said side walls when in the closed position, a second flap hingedly connected to a free end margin of said first flap and being substantially co-planer therewith in the open position and being located in juxtaposition to at least a portion of said planar wall when in the closed position, score depicting elements swingably mounted with respect to said closure wall and being movable upon contact by a playing ball propelled along said closure wall, an outwardly projecting pin located on said second flap, ball actuating means removably retained by said outwardly projecting pin, said ball actuating means being swingable on said projecting pin and being manually operable by a player to contact said playing ball and propel same toward said score depicting elements, and means forming an aperture in said planar wall sized to receive said pin when said closure wall and first and second flaps are in the closed position.
 2. The portable game device of claim 1 further characterized in that side wall flaps extend outwardly from opposite ends of margins of said closure wall and are located in juxtaposition to said end walls when the closure wall is moved to the closed position.
 3. The portable game device of claim 1 further characterized in that said first and second flaps have substantially the same width as said closure wall.
 4. The portable game device of claim 1 further characterized in that said closure wall and said first and second flaps constitute a playing board when in the open position and in coplanar relationship, and at least one of said closure walls and first and second flaps have elements of a game imprinted on commonly presented surfaces thereof.
 5. The portable game device of claim 4 further characterized in that said game device is a baseball game and the elements of the game are elements of a baseball playing field.
 6. The portable game device of claim 1 further characterized in that handle means is located on one of said end walls.
 7. The portable game device of claim 1 further characterized in that a chute sized to receive a playing ball extends longitudinally across a portion of said closure wall in angular relationship to a surface thereof.
 8. A baseball game device comprising a base member having a player functioning end and a back wall opposite to said player functioning end, a side wall extending forwardly toward said player functioning end from each of the opposite end margins of said back wall, suspension means retained by said side walls and extending across said base member in substantially parallel relationship to said back wall and being located intermediate said back wall and player functioning end, a plurality of spaced apart aligned score depicting elements rockably retained by and depending from said suspension means and extending across a portion of said base member, a ball actuating member located at said player functioning end and being manually operable by a player to propel a playing ball toward said score depicting elements for generating a score upon contact of said ball with selected ones of said score depicting elements, elements of a baseball playing field imprinted on said base member in cooperative relationship to said score depicting elements for determining the score obtained by a player pursuant to movement of said ball toward the region of said score depicting elements, elements of a baseball playing field imprinted on said back wall corresponding to elements of the baseball playIng field imprinted on said base member, manually shiftable score depicting devices manually locatable at selected locations on the elements of the baseball playing field imprinted on said back wall, a chute sized to receive the playing ball extending from said suspension means toward said player functioning end and being inclined downwardly toward said player functioning end for causing the ball to be moved toward said player functioning end, whereby said ball may be propelled by said ball actuating member toward said score depicting elements, said chute also being located to receive a ball propelled therein from said ball actuating member for affecting the score obtained by a player, at least one score depicting dial face located on said back wall, and manually movable pointer means on said dial face for depicting the score of one or more players.
 9. A game device comprising the combination of a base member having a player functioning end and an upstanding back wall on an end opposite to said player functioning end, suspension means extending across said base member and substantially parallel to and intermediate said back wall and player functioning end, a plurality of score depicting elements extending across a portion of said base member and being rockably mounted with respect to said suspension means, a ball actuating member located at said player functioning end and being manually operable by a player to propel a ball toward said score depicting elements for generating a score upon contact with selected ones of said score depicting elements by a playing ball, a chute sized to receive said playing ball extending toward said player functioning end for causing said ball to be moved toward said player functioning end whereupon said ball may be propelled by said ball actuating member toward said score depicting elements, said chute being located to incline downwardly toward said player functioning end and being located to receive a ball propelled therein from said ball actuating member for affecting the score obtained by a player, and a bell located behind said chute to be actuated by a ball propelled into and through said chute.
 10. The game device of claim 9 further characterized in that elements of a game are imprinted on said back wall, and that manually shiftable score depicting devices are locatable at selected locations on the elements of said game to depict the score of a player.
 11. A game device comprising a base member having a player functioning end and a back wall opposite to said player functioning end, a side wall extending forwardly toward said player functioning end from each of the opposite end margins of said back wall, suspension means retained by said side walls and extending across said base member in substantially parallel relationship to said back wall and being located intermediate said back wall and player functioning end, a plurality of spaced apart aligned score depicting elements rockably retained by and depending from said suspension means and extending across a portion of said base member, a ball actuating member located at said player functioning end and being manually operable by a player to propel a playing ball toward said score depicting elements for generating a score upon contact of said ball with selected ones of said score depicting elements, elements of a playing game imprinted on said base member in cooperative relationship to said score depicting elements for determining the score obtained by a player pursuant to movement of said ball toward the region of said score depicting elements, elements of the playing game imprinted on said back wall corresponding to elements of the playing game imprinted on said base member, manually shiftable score depicting devices manually locatable at selected locations on the elements of the playing game imprinted on said back wall, a chute sized to receive the playing ball extending from said suspension means toward said player functioning end and being inclined downwardly toward said player functioning end for causing the ball to be moved toward said player functioning end, whereby said ball may be propelled by said ball actuating member toward said score depicting elements, said chute also being located to receive a ball propelled therein from said ball actuating member for affecting the score obtained by a player, at least one score depicting dial face located on said back wall, and manually movable pointer means on said dial face for depicting the score of one or more players.
 12. The game device of claim 11 further characterized in that said ball actuating member comprises a shank portion fitted over a pin located on said base member and having a ball contact portion angularly located to said shank portion.
 13. The game device of claim 11 further characterized in that the game played thereon is a baseball game, the elements of the game imprinted on said base member constitute elements of a baseball playing field, and where foul-ball lines are imprinted on said base member and extend from the elements of said baseball playing field toward said score depicting element. 